Glen Anderson, deputy chief of the Bridgewater State University Police Department and an emergency medical technician for 30 years, has earned national recognition for launching and expanding emergency medical services at the university.
Deputy Chief Anderson was awarded the 2015 National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians EMT of the Year Award, sponsored by Braun Industries. The award was presented earlier this fall in Las Vegas at the National EMS Awards of Excellence ceremony during its World Expo.
A member of the BSUPD since 1998, Mr. Anderson was nominated for the recognition by his colleague, Lt. Matthew T. Rushton, for “his commitment to developing a wide range of emergency medical services for the students, staff and faculty of the university.” Lt. Rushton also attended the ceremony.
“I was certainly very honored by Lt. Rushton’s nomination,” Mr. Anderson said. “It’s a great community and it has been a great honor to be able to serve it, as well.”
Mr. Anderson was credited with the purchase and licensing of the university’s first ambulance, introduction and deployment of the Public Access Defibrillator program on the main campus as well as at BSU’s three off-campus sites, instruction of CPR and first-responder training for members of the BSU community, and establishment of an EMT program on campus.
In turn, he credits “support from the institution, Police Chief David Tillinghast and the department. Make no mistake, it’s a team effort,” Mr. Anderson said. “I couldn’t be more pleased with the team.”
He has also earned recognition for saving the life of a member of the BSU community in 2011. During his tenure at Bridgewater, Deputy Chief Anderson has trained more than 1,000 community members in first aid and CPR. Most recently, he was instrumental in the deployment of Naloxone, also known as Narcan, in the BSU Police Department.
An active member of the BSU Care Team, a multidisciplinary team of experts and points of contact that intervene as needed on behalf of students, Deputy Chief Anderson has been a strong advocate of those dealing with mental health issues, particularly the development of policy as it relates to screenings and psychiatric referrals. (Story by Eva Gaffney; photo submitted)